A series of massive wildfires spread through the counties of Napa, Sonoma, and six others early this week, destroying at least 3,500 homes, businesses, and other structures, and sending residents fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night. An estimated 50,000 people have left their homes for shelters and hotels, and new evacuation orders were issued late on Wednesday.

The situation is considered one of the deadliest fires in state history. At least 36 people are dead, and another 235 people are reported missing in Sonoma County. Hundreds more have been hospitalized. Local officials describe the death toll as a "fluid number," as the hot zones cool and law enforcement officers begin to uncover human remains in the rubble.

An inferno called the Tubbs Fire (which has accounted for 13 of the deaths) has burned more than 34,000 acres in and around the city of Santa Rosa, according to the Cal Fire website. The Atlas Fire in Napa has charred an additional 43,000 acres. Residents and public officials won't know the full extent of the damage until evacuation orders have been lifted.

"Make no mistake," Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said in a news briefing on Wednesday. "This is a serious, critical, catastrophic event."

As many as seven fires ignited on Sunday night and grew as hot, dry winds — with gusts of up to 70 miles per hour — carried the flames from ridge top to ridge top in Napa.

"In a two-to-three-hour period, we had seven different counties affected by fire all at once," Deputy Chief Bret Gouvea of Cal Fire told the San Francisco Chronicle. "And not just ordinary fires. Because of those wind conditions, these fires got out of hand very quickly."

Two women hug as they watch houses burn in Santa Rosa, California, on Monday, October 9, 2017.
Jeff Chiu/AP

Residents speaking to local media outlets described "fleeing for their lives in the middle of the night from the fire, in cars or on foot." Many left with only the clothes on their backs.

In Napa, guests of the Silverado Resort and Spa were sleeping when an order to evacuate came on over the loudspeaker. The power went out as the flames crept closer.

"It was surreal," Chris Thomas, who arrived at the resort on Sunday with his wife for a wine-tasting trip, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "When I started loading stuff into the car it was a hell-storm of smoke and ash. There were 30 to 40 mph winds. I couldn't even breathe."